They say a foot of snow or more is coming our way. So, as we head into the weekend, we’re preparing for the first significant winter storm of the year.

Our crews have pretreated the roads and are following 12 planned routes across the city. We have 6000 tons of salt on hand. When clearing the roads, the crew starts with primary roads first than secondary. Very seldom will they come down side streets, so plan accordingly.

This is a full-city response. Public Works, the Evansville Vanderburgh County Emergency Management Agency, Dispatch, Police, Fire, and our utility partners are in constant communication to ensure coordination before, during, and after the storm.

We haven’t seen anything like this in years, so please take this storm seriously and plan ahead.

• Stay informed by following the Evansville Vanderburgh County Emergency Management Agency on social media for the latest updates and safety information.
• If you don’t need to be on the roads once the snow starts falling, please stay home. That gives our crews the space they need to clear streets efficiently and safely.
• If you do have to drive, slow down, keep a safe distance from plows and salt trucks, and give crews the room they need to do their jobs.

A little patience goes a long way, and it helps protect both residents and the City workers who will be putting in long hours to keep the city moving.

Also, earlier this week I was at the Statehouse for the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP) Day, advocating for issues that matter directly to Evansville and our region.

And next week, I’ll be back.

Why? Because decisions being made in Indianapolis right now have real, on-the-ground consequences for our city. They impact our budget, our public safety, our infrastructure, and our ability to deliver the basic services residents expect and deserve.

During these visits, I meet with legislators and staff to make the case for Evansville. There are a number of pieces of legislation we are watching but three topics that are critically important this session are focused on local government funding, rising utility cost, and housing. All which are important to our cities growth.

As your Mayor, I have a responsibility to show up, speak clearly, and advocate when state-level decisions threaten the stability of our communities. That’s exactly what we’re doing, and it’s what I’m going back to do next week alongside other Mayors.

Thank you, as always, for staying engaged, informed, and supportive. I hope you have a safe, warm weekend.

— Stephanie